Marsh happy with debut

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Chevon Marsh (foreground) being fouled by Xavian Virgo during a Premier League game in 2013.

Chevone 'Messi' Marsh made his long-awaited debut for the Reggae Boyz and impressed as a second-half substitute against Saudi Arabia last Saturday.

Despite a 5-2 defeat in the friendly international against the World Cup-bound Saudis, Marsh was happy with his debut performance.

"I'm feeling great, although the result was not what we expected. It was a bad defeat to Saudi Arabia but, as the coaching staff stated before, it is a work in progress. It is a new generation and a process for World Cup qualification for 2022," Marsh told STAR Sports.

"I played around 30 minutes and, from feedback from the coaching staff and people who watched the game from Jamaica, on Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, they rate my performance, so I am feeling good about my debut for the national team," said the 23-year-old former Calabar and national Under-20 midfielder.

"It was my debut game and, big up to the coaches for the opportunity, they believe in me and gave me the chance to go on the field in the second half. I gave it my all because I love my country and it is an honour to play for the team," he added.

SPARKED CONTROVERSY

In April of last year, Marsh went on trial in Finland, which sparked controversy with then national coach Winfried Schaefer, who wanted him for a friendly international against Chile. Marsh opted to sign a loan deal with Kokkolan Palloveikot in the Finnish League.

Marsh said that is behind him and he will continue to work hard on his game.

"I will give my ultimate best all the time, regardless of the result. That is in the past and I'm looking to the future now. There are greater things to come," he said.

Marsh is also happy that more local players are in the national programme as they build towards the 2022 World Cup qualification.

"It is good to see more local players in the programme. I believe everyone deserves a chance. I was once playing locally and knocking on the door for a chance. In the 1998 campaign, there were a lot of local players in the squad then overseas players were injected for the World Cup," he noted.

"It is really a great chance. You could see in the second half against Saudi Arabia, the coach injected local-based players in the team and it added more energy and we finished the game well," he pointed out.

With regards to rejoining Cavalier in the Premier League, Marsh said he will return to Finland next January.

"I have an extension on my contract. When I came back I told Speid (Rudolph, chairman of Cavalier) that I wanted to play in the local league so the national coaches could get a closer look at me. I will play until I am ready to leave in January for KPG in Finland," he said.